Telecommunications

Hundt: Fcc Will Rule Soon On Video Dial Tone

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission will rule on its backlog of requests by phone companies to offer video programs over their networks in "just a few weeks," Chairman Reed Hundt says.

Most of the regional Bell companies, along with other local phone companies, have been waiting months for the FCC to act on their video dial-tone applications. The requests would let the companies build video networks that could compete with cable television operators.

"We're now making substantial progress. In a matter of just a few weeks we'll be through them," Hundt said.

Speedy resolution of the more than two-dozen requests would give the local phone companies certainty about how quickly and how aggressively they can roll out cable services.